A Press Releasefrom World Sindhi Congress (WSC) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
PAKISTAN: WSC Deeply Saddened and Condemns the Violence, Harassment and Killing of Sindhi Hindus
After an alleged incident of burning Quran in Ghotki on 26th July, in all the large and small towns of district Ghotki
including Ghotki, Dharki, Mirpur Mathelo, Rahrki the proxies of the state agencies and vigilantes of religious extremist
have started a campaign of harassment and hatred against Sindhi Hindus. All these towns have been shut down, there has
been an attack on the shrine of Bhgat Kanwar in Rahrki and in a separate incident two youth, Satesh Kumar and Avinash
were fired upon in Mirpur Mathelo. Sadly, Sateesh Kumar succumbed to death and Avinash is in critical condition. In all
these towns where Sindhi Hindus live in large numbers are in a deep state of shock, fear, insecurity and uncertainty.
The information is emerging that person involved in the alleged incident is insane, who recently might have been
converted to Islam. The incident occurred on 25th July from a cigarette butt. However, it appears that the incident was
then deliberately manipulated to launch a campaign of terror against the indigenous Sindhi Hindus. WSC has been raising
the issue of systematic efforts by the Pakistani agencies to create an atmosphere of terror to coerce Sindhi Hindus to
migrate as part of their designs to convert Sindhis into minority in their own motherland and tear apart the secular
social fabric of Sindhi society.
WSC strongly condemns this latest campaign of terror against indigenous Sindhis and promise to be beside them. WSC
believes this is the direct outcome of state policies to systematically support and sponsor spread of religious
extremism. WSC requests all the Sindhi political parties and civil society to proactively demonstrate their support to
Sindhi Hindus against state proxies and religious vigilantes. WSC will raise this issue with the UN and international
human rights organisations to press upon the Pakistani government to ensure the peace, safety and security of Sindhi
Hindus.
The World Sindhi Congress (WSC) is based in the UK, USA, Canada, and Sindh and is one of the most prominent human rights
advocacy organizations for Sindh and Sindhis. The main objective of WSC is to create a better understanding within the
international community about the persecuted status of Sindhis in Pakistan and about the Sindhi people’s struggle for
human rights, including the right to self-determination. WSC is a registered company in the UK and the USA, and is
organized to carry out non-profit activities. For more information, visit www.worldsindhicongress.org
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